Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide

(hiddur mitzvah). Tefillah can enable us to express our feelings and hopes. Much of the
significance of prayer lies in its ability to give voice to our yearnings and aspirations, to
refine our natures, and to create a strong link to God.
According to Jewish law, our obligation to pray can be fulfilled in any language.
Conservative Jews, like Jews throughout the centuries, pray largely in Hebrew. Hebrew is
lashon hakodesh – the holy tongue. Hebrew envelops us in the vital spirit of Jewish
prayer. An important part of this spirit is the music and melodies that accompany the
prayers. The Conservative movement embraces traditional melodies but also enhances
Jewish liturgy and the experience of worship through new prayers in both Hebrew and
the vernacular, and through the use of new melodies. Someone who learns the siddur and
its music develops an emotional attachment to the very sounds and rhythms of the words
and music.
The Conservative movement also teaches that there are prayers and special brachot
(blessings) that are to be said in a variety of circumstances, both inside and outside the
synagogue. In this way, prayer expands our awareness of God beyond limited times and
places, and imparts a sacred dimension to our daily lives.
God and Spirituality
Table of Contents
Preparing yourself for wrestling with God – for adults 52
Preparing yourself for talking with children about God 52
Preparing the children for talking about God 55
God and Spirituality Concepts
Tefillot, or Formal Ways to Invite God into the Classroom 59
Daily or Circle Time Tefillot 59
Torah Service 60
Shabbat Tefillot 61
Informal Ways to Invite God into the Classroom 66
Bibliography and references 68
Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide
USCJ Department of Education
Maxine Handelman
Handelman@uscj.org
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